The device is suited for quality assurance, metal fabrication and materials identification, and was engineered for durability in the demanding scrap-recycling industry. A rugged design ensures strength for field operation in nearly all environments, including humid and dusty conditions.

A proprietary 1064-nm laser for low background laser ablation atomic emission spectroscopy is used, eliminating the need for a complicated gating system. A multidetector design allows the EOS 500 to cover an extended wavelength range from 170 to 720 nm while maintaining resolution for a complicated metal matrix.